By Balkis Tijani.
The Pan Yoruba Socio- Political group, Afenifere, has described the proposed move to implement Ruga settlements all over the country as a declaration of war on the rest of Nigerians by the Fulanis.
The Yoruba group chastened the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), for “fanning the flames of war” by supporting the set up of settlements for Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria.
Recall that the ACF had recently asked those opposed to the Ruga programme to shelve their opposition and allow the policy take off.
Afenifere, through its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, described the objective of Ruga as primarily for conquest, domination, land grabbing, and forceful take over of territory; explaining how the Fulanis used religion to take over Hausa lands, including Berom and Ilorin who now have Emirs, unlike what was obtainable in the past.
He said: “They should be careful the way they are going. They should let us live in peace and harmony on the basis of true federalism, but if they think that they can lord it over the rest of the country because they hold temporary power for four years, they are playing with fire.
“There was a country called Soviet Union; there was a country called Czechoslovakia and there was a country called Yugoslavia; those countries are no more on the world map today, so, they should not let that be the fate of Nigeria the way they are going; they should be very careful.
“They are looking for something else, which is not in the interest of the country. To say that they want Ruga settlements implemented all over the country is a declaration of war on the rest of us.
“The federal government through its body language, policy, action has turned sectional and that is why nothing is happening to these people making this hate speech.
“What did Nnamdi Kanu do that they charged him for treason? But the government is keeping quiet when a group is issuing threat against a section of the country because they are protesting against cows destroying their farm crops.
“Today, unfortunately, the federal government is losing its authority by allowing a group to issue threats against citizens; we are on the road to Kigali.
“This is just about conquest, domination, land grabbing, and forceful take over of territory; go back to history, the entire Hausa land today, Berom and Ilorin, they never had emirs, there is no town in Hausa land today that the Fulani built, but go everywhere; go to Zamfara, they have emirs everywhere. How did they do it? They used religion then to take over the territory, now they want to use cattle to take over the rest of the territory of Nigeria.”